CH 97.2

As expected, the VIP seats weren’t able to accommodate the nobles present today so they sat in the general spectator seats with the commoners.

I understand that it’s the closing ceremony later so the military personnels are in their military uniform and the civilian players are in their slightly more stylish dresses and jackets but for some reason, the commoner spectators…..seemed to be wearing crisper clothes and hair styles than usual and there was an air of sobriety throughout the entire event.

Maa, it can’t be helped since today is a special day.

The final ranking for the first ever noble league will be announced…..it is a momentous day in the history of baseball in Torquiva.

Also, for those who bet on their team’s league standings, it’s also the announcement of the results of the last big gamble of the year so perhaps it is only natural that they are fired up.

We  waded through the crowd to meet up with the Slayra White Beams team and watched the game unfold over a cup of hot ginger ale.

The Snore Family and Magic Academy teams finished their prestigious final match just a little over the scheduled time, eliciting shouts of joy, screams, and sobs from the audience at the same time.

Moving through the crowd of people, who were eagerly going to exchange their betting tickets, and those who were sighing, “I can’t go through the new year”……our team stepped into the ground.

Laura-san and I are still holding Noah and Lacus.

The other teams seemed to have brought their children too, all dressed up in their best clothes.

Well, it’s not a professional sport and it’s better to be loose like this to make it feel more festive.

『The president of the Baseball Players Association, Estoma Seran-sama, will not make the closing remarks. Everyone, please be quiet.』

The emcee, who stood next to the podium that had been magically floated to the center of the ground, made the announcement and handed the loudspeaker to Venerable Estoma who’s still in his baseball uniform.

The applause from all over the grounds greeted him as he slowly climbed up onto the top of the podium.

『Umu umu』

He looked around at the assembled players, nodding his head repeatedly, waited for the applause to die down, and then began to speak very slowly.

『Ladies and gentlemen, you have fought well and fairly in this noble league that began this spring. I will now announce the standings and anyone who has any objections should come forward immediately. Even if you found that you are actually right later, if you don’t say it now, your words will no longer have any significance. There was once a time when I was……well, around forty when my beloved subordinate…..』

Sigh….a quiet sigh escapes from the mouths of the surrounding academy graduates.

When he begins to talk about the past, it will be a long story.

I’m glad I’ve made the kids wear thick clothes……

I shook the heavy Noah, who’s sleeping in my arms, and made sure that the muscles on my face looked serious while I let my mind fly away…..

-0-

Although I had only vaguely heard about it while thinking about my work arrangements, it seems like this year’s winner was the lord of Torquiva’s team, the Snore Family.

Incidentally, our team’s final standing was third from the bottom.

Considering the fact that we were in last place all the way to the middle of the tournament, I guess we did fairly well.

I guess the men brother-in-law sent did a good job and I have to give a bonus to the people who I put in charge of educating them.

Laura-san was a little dissatisfied as she looked at the Snore Family celebrating their victory with a yell. She said, “Can you still do that next year?”.

However, it seems like this year is still too frustrating for her……

At the party that followed, Laura-san drank a lot of alcohol, which was unusual for the normally cool Laura-san. She also talked about taking revenge next year.

Alright, alright, I’ll go with you as much as you want.

Only if you’re fine with me being your catcher.

-0-

The festival at the Mole God Temple on Schenker Street, which was established the year before the last and officially entrusted to my second brother last year, was about to be held again this year.

Last year, I mostly left it to others but this year, I decided to participate a little myself.

However, that doesn’t mean I will be participating in the boxing tournament that was so much fun last year or put on a show on stage.

What I’ll be doing is sell food at a stall.

This year, I had something I really wanted the people of Torquiva to taste.